Posted on 02/08/2008 1:18:25 PM PST by SoftballMominVA
RICHMOND, Va. -- The House has unanimously passed legislation to make it more difficult for those who have sexually abused children to get jobs in Virginia's schools.
Child Protective Services would be required to notify a school division about employees who have sexually abused children. Existing teachers who take advantage of their students and have exhausted all appeals would be fired and their licenses could be revoked.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbc4.com ...
As a teacher, I want these scumbags kept away from kids and I want those convicted to never be allowed to teach again.
Gabz, Amelia, and I have volunteered to take over the list so that Metmom can concentrate on home schooling issues.
If you want on or off this ping list, please Freepmail SoftballMominVA who is this month’s official keeper of the list
I am away from home for a few days and do not have the most updated list. I apologize if you are supposed to be on or off and you are not. I'll get a new list where I can get it on the road when I get back home.
I just wrote this about another teacher caught having sex with a student. It disgusts me... but I thought my response was pretty good, and pertinent to this new law, which comes close to solving the problem, but doesn’t go far enough.
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As a teacher I’m embarressed always about stories like this one. Yes, my profession has enormous problems, and given a choice, I would implement Milton Friedman’s solution to the education mess in the United States, although this teacher worked in the private sector, so the problem isn’t really an expression of a government-run institution.
The problem is character. Back in the old days, teachers were hired and fired based on character. Contracts stipulated certain behavior would get you fired, including behavior which was perfectly legal, such as smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol, and being a married woman. There was a general revulsion of those character-based rules about 50 years ago, but there are still remnants of that kind of thinking out there - as a teacher, I can be fired for “moral terpitude,” which includes drinking, gambling, and sexual cavorting (in my state). I don’t know of any of my colleagues being reprimanded or fired for violating those rules, though.
By the time I came into the profession 10 years ago, those character-based decisions had vanished. I have never been to a job interview where any questions were asked about my character or personal habits.
That’s where the problem lies. Teaching involves an intense relationship between the teacher and student, with the adult leading the child, hopefully into greater knowledge, better judgments, and ethical and moral clarity. Most people know fourth-grade math; most people cannot lead a roomful of children in a disciplined, focused manner, especially about subjects like spelling, math, and reading that most kids would sooner ignore than work on with diligence.
The essence of my job is trust. When my students trust me, they will follow me, and therefore they will spend time writing essays, reflecting on books, and using the proper spelling and grammar. The nightmare teacher uses that trust to gain sexual favors from some students. The school needs to know up front that the teacher has the character to use that trust well.
In that regard, I wouldn’t hire any teacher younger than 35. That’s about the age I finally started really understanding what the world was about. I began teaching at the age of 43, which means that I bring patience and depth to my class. I couldn’t have done it at the age of 26.
I would also make character the focus of hiring. If you want me to get on my soapbox about the uselessness of education schools, the futility of my union, the sheer bureacratic inertia of public schools, the welfare mentality of many parents and students... it’s a mess. The best I would recommend to parents is homeschooling, if possible, and if not, then be a tick on the side of your child’s teacher at every grade to make sure that teacher has the character needed to teach your child. The good teachers will appreciate the support.
Guess they’ve had it with the 26 year old bimbos...
I know I have
The decline of character will be this country's downfall. Public schools built good character for many decades, it wasn't until Dr. Spock and his type invaded our psyche and convinced the Baby Boomers their parents did everything wrong, when they actually had done everything right
Above in bold is part of the problem with the educational system in the United States. It is not your job to teach ethical and moral clarity. That is the job of the parents.
Therein lies the rub
Very well said. We appreciate your statement here about how teachers are hired and evaluated. There should be some basic minimal standards applied to the people who are working with our young people.
With all the student teacher sexual stories we’re hearing nowadays, you really have to question what kind of judgement that teacher has. Even if its a young woman teacher and the boy is willing, and everything is completely consensual, you still have to question the teachers judgement to be in that type of situation.
ping.
It is odd...But, after many, many requests to have my name added to your ping list, your specific list consistently fails to reach me.
Given a woman of your integrity, professionalism, and sense of fairness, I am completely certain that this couldn’t possibly be personal. It absolutely is a fluke. Isn’t it?
Therein lies the rub ( Softball)
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Education is never morally, ethically, or values neutral. It is axiomatic.
This means the education of children can never be religiously neutral. The education of children is fundamentally morally, ethically, and values rich, and therefore its content has profound religious consequences for the child and for all of society.
Therefore: Teachers and the teaching profession participate **greatly** in the moral education of all the children that enter their schools. The educational programs teachers directly and indirectly support and implement have moral consequences. Teachers for this reason can claim part of the praise as well as part of the blame for the moral integrity of our nation.
If you believe that a morally, ethically, and values neutral education exists, ( free of religious consequences) please describe it to me. ( curriculum and school policies) I will have great fun with it.
please read #12. I forgot to add your name to the ping.
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